Dulwich Hamlet (A) - 11th November 2023

By Josh Cole

On Saturday we hit the road to South London to take on Dulwich Hamlet at Champion Hill in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Tuesday saw a 1-1 draw at Hartsdown Park as a last gasp equaliser for Haringey rescued them a point. You can read the full match report by clicking here.

OPPONENTS SEASON SO FAR

Dulwich were new boys in the league this season after coming down from the National League South last campaign. Hamlet started the season strong with a draw and a win from the opening two games against Hashtag and Canvey, but then they lost six of their next eight league games which cemented their place in the bottom half of the table.

They have recovered some form, unbeaten in four which moves them up to 15th place, with the season looking a bit better than it was. They have a record of four wins, three draws and six losses putting them on 15 points. Scoring has not been a problem for Dulwich, as they have netted 23 times, but games are won by the attack and championships are won by the defence, in which they’ve conceded 26, the third most in the division. This gives Hamlet a -3-goal difference.

LAST FIVE: DULWICH HAMLET

Draw vs Whitehawk, away (1-1) League

Win vs Wingate & Finchley, away (2-3) League

Loss vs Lewes, home (0-2) FA Trophy 1st Round

Draw vs Haringey Borough, away (1-1) League

Loss vs Kingstonian, away (3-2) Velocity Cup 3rd Round

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

Win vs Chatham Town, home (2-0) League

Draw vs Hashtag United, home (1-1) League

Loss vs Hastings United, home (1-2) League

Win vs Lewes, home (2-0) League

Draw vs Haringey Borough, home (1-1) League

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dulwich take the head-to-head record as they have recorded seven wins against the ‘Gate from ten matches dating back to September 2013. Margate have only managed to win two games against their South London counterparts with one draw making up the ten games. The last time we faced Dulwich Hamlet at Champion Hill was last season in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round where we were defeated 2-1 by a superior Hamlet side.

MATCH OFFICIALS

The referee for this match is Tolu Sangowawa and he will be assisted by Harry Demo and Terence Dawkins.

Unable to follow the ‘Gate into the capital? Stay involved by following us on our official X account @margate_fc for live match updates commencing from 2:15pm!

STADIUM ADDRESS

CHAMPION HILL

LONDON

SE22 8BD

UP THE ‘GATE

Blues Denied Three Points At The Death

By Dylan Smith 

The ‘Gate produced a brilliant second half performance but dropped two points at the death in London after drawing 2-2. 

Manager Reece Prestedge named one change to the lineup, with Fyn Rutherford dropping into the midfield, as Godfrey Poku dropped out of the squad with a light knock.

The Blues started the game well, winning an early free-kick two minutes through direct play from Rohdell Gordon, however Ben Greenhalgh couldn’t beat the wall.

In the next 15 minutes, the game was lively and end to end, as both sides looked to press forward and open the scoring. Dulwich would have most of the chances, with an Adrian Clifton overhead kick that went over the bar and an Anthony Jeffrey effort that found the side netting.

The ’Gate had the ball in the back of the net first through a Tyrone Sterling header. Sadly, the goal was ruled out for a foul on the keeper.

For the rest of the half, the Hamlet were on top and should have opened the scoring through Jeffrey in the 36th minute. He cut inside on to his left foot, rifled a shot from 20 yards and hit the crossbar.

 Sterling then blocked a shot on the line in the 38th minute, following a headed effort from the home side.

With half time on the horizon, Dulwich would break the deadlock and take a well-deserved lead. Jeffrey replicated his prior actions in the 36th minute, but this time he found the top left corner, leaving the ‘Gate with it all to do in the second half.

Margate came out after the interval with grit between their teeth. In the opening ten minutes of the half, the ‘Gate had a lot of free kicks in dangerous positions, but they all were near misses from Greenhalgh.

The ‘Gate then found a deserved equaliser in the 60th minute. Rutherford was brought down 25 yards from goal, giving the Blues another free kick. Greenhalgh whipped the ball to the back post, finding a free Sam Blackman to tap home from two yards.

The last third of the game was a cagey affair, with the ‘Gate defence standing firm. Furthermore, the attack was winning a lot of corners but were unable to convert any of them.

As the game trickled on into the 90th minute, the Blues thought they had found the winner. Greenhalgh received the ball on the right wing, he did brilliantly to get to the byline and send a cross low and hard across the box. He found Steve Cawley free in the box where he placed it home from three yards to give the ‘Gate the lead.

Sadly, Dulwich found an equaliser in the sixth added minute, breaking Margate hearts. Substitute Joshua Shonibare found himself open at the back post, where he would head home, beating Harry Seaden at his near post.

And with that the final whistle went leaving both sides to share the spoils.

Margate travel to Whithawk on Tuesday evening, as they start their adventure in the Velocity Trophy.

Line-up

Seaden, Hatfull, Johnson, Sterling, Hudson, Gordon (Box 73’), Blackman, Cawley, Greenhalgh, Rutherford, Knight (Roberts 83’)

Unused sub(s)

Mazzone

Bowman

Duncanson

Goalscorer(s)

Sam Blackman 60’

Steve Cawley 90’

Attendance

3,334